Gas-washer.



No- 856,731. PATENTED JUNE 11, 1907. G. SAALER.

GASv WASHER.

APPLIOATION FILED D110. 27. 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

' Snumnl'oz PATENTED JUNE 11, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

0 M M w W M uncertain in operation and not entirely suc- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GAS-WASH E R Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June '11, 1907.

Application filed December 2'7, 1906. Serial No. 349,691.

To all whom it may concern.-

water through in one direction, while gas is being drawn through in the opposite direction.

' It consists in certain new features whereby the construction and operation ofthe washer are much improved.

. Heretofore washers of this general type have been used to some extent but have been cessful, from defects which arose from an incorrect understanding of the principles involved. It will be understood that gases can be washed by passing them through a falling shower of water, but the amount of water they often clogged up clean the gases, but perinitted the passage used is so large and the process so slow as to prevent its commercial use; therefore, the

adoption of these rotary washers, whose object is to purify large masses of gas (iuickly and continuously with the minimum 0 Water and of power.

and. did not perfectly onward to the piping and the gas engine of gas containing impurities and moisture. This is caused largely by the fact that the gases are brought into intimate contact with the water only toward the gas outlet end; while toward the as inlet end, the machine is practically ine ective, for the water flows out.

around the circumference of the casing,

while the gases are admitted at the end and toward the center, so that the gases are not brought in intimate contact with the spray or water-mist.

My invention consists in modifications in thp preceding machines whereby they are 7 improved and certain defects overcome. By

my machine the gases are'perfectly purified, even of their coloring matter, an are delivered from the exit end to the engine practically dry, and this is eflected rapidly, without presenting obstacles to the flow of the gas and with the minimum of power and of water. I

The particular features of my invention are As heretofore constructednately arranged through the length of the machine (instead of continuous wings"), whereby the water passing from one set of wings to the next forms veils or sheets of fine spray or watermist, through a plurality of which sheets the gas is force to pass, without sensibly impeding its rate of flow.

Second to-provide the casing on its interior with projections preferably in the form of longitudinal strips, and by arranging the wings to rotate 1n close proximity to said projections, whereby the tendency of the water to flow rapidly around, in contact with the casin and more or less ineffectively, is prevente the rotating flow of the water is checked, and as it asses over the projections it is continually eing broken up by the 'wings into water-mist and mixed with the as; the particles of water-mist, having comhined or united with the impurities, are constantly being driven centrifugally by the wings and back into the film of water, maintained'on the surface of the casing; by arranging the strips longitudinally in the casing, the flow of the water toward the rear, or gas inlet end, of the machine is not impeded ut promoted.

Third by admitting the gases at the circumference of the casing, where it is met by a stream of water-mist being driven forcibly down and in the opposite direction to the entering gases, by the wings. By these preliminary steps a lar e portion .of the impurities, and those the heavier, are washed out before they can enter the washer, and the infiowing gases are also desirably moistened and cooled. Preliminary cooling is very important to prevent the conversion withinthe washer of the water into steam or vapor which would be otherwise mixed with the light impurities, to be carried forward into the piping and the engine. Such preliminarymoistening of the gases is also of great importance, as the fundamental principle which I have discovered and on which'the success of my washer depends, is to saturate the as as completely as possible with mechanlcally formed fine spray'or water-mist;

this water-mist unites with the impurities in the gases, and then by the centrifugal force of the wings the Water-mist and the impurities are driven toward the circumference, into the water film on the inner surface of the casing; the impurities are retained in the film and flow out in thestreams of water seal;

without stopping the machine. 1

continually flowing forwardly between the strips to the water outlet, and the gas flows from the gas outlet substantially dry and practically perfectly purified, not only of the coarser impurities but evenof the impalpable impurities which discolor certain gases.

Fourth, the arrangement of water seals at the gas inlet end and the outlet end, particularly the former. The gas being turned at a sharp angle, from the inlet pipe into the junction, a portion'of the impurities particularlythe heavier, fall by gravity into the other impurities washed out by the down-pouring stream of water-mist at the inlet. No such provision was made in prior machines for separating out the heavier impurities, nor was there any water seal to receive them, but more or less of these impurities entered the machine, impedin its operation; some were deposited at the indet, onthe metal case at the bottom, 'where they clogged up the machine.

necessary a gas-holder for regulating the pressure. WVhereas a gas-holder is not necessary with my machine, that is for regulating the pressure, thou h of course it may be used for storage of the cleaned gas. impurities may conveniently be cleaned from the seals and utilized for other purposes,

Finally, my entire machine is operative and effective from end .to end with no waste space; toward the' front of the washer there is a greater effect of breaking up the water and cleansing the gases, toward the rear where the wings are more inclined, less of that effect, and more to drive thewater rearwardly, whereby the as is dried.

My invention is ful y shown in the drawing herewith, in which the reference letters and numerals of the description indicate the corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of my gas Washer. Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are cross sections thereof taken respectively on section-lines w, :10, y, of Fig.1. Fig. 5 is a partial cross section taken on line 2 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is an elevation of thedrum detached to show the arrangement of the wings .Fig. 7 is a diagram explaining Fig. '6 and illustrating an undesirable arrangement of wings. Fig. 8 is a side elevation with portions broken away to show'a modification in the form of the casing. Figs. 9 and 10 are diagrams of a portion of the casing behind ,the drum to illustrate the arrangement and'function of the strips. I

In the figures, 1 indicates the fixed casin vcarriedon suitable standards 2 and provided with stuffing boxes 3'for the shaft 4, journaled in bearings 6 and having a pulley 7 or other means, by which: the shaft and the drum are rotated from any suitable source are immediately The 'result was an irregular pressure, making The mist and direct it, between the casing and the drum, both centrifugally to the surface I of the casing and longitudinally toward the water outlet and gas inlet at the front end, where it is received with the impurities, washed from the gases, andmore or less in solution, into the water seal 16, having overflow 17 for the water. The heavier impurities,

tar for instance, are more or less separated from the gases by the centrifugal force of the wings. These fall into the seal, whence they may be cleaned out from time to time.

111 the enlarged rear end 20 of the casing is arranged the fan-21 for drawing the gasinto and through the washer and driving it on through the pipe 22 to the gas engine, or to other point, where it is consumed or stored. The crude gasesenter the washer from the cooler or the source of supply through pipe;

25, and. are turned at an angle into the enlarged junction 14, and thence to the inlet-26 where they are met by a heavy dowi'i-pour of the water-mist drivenby the wings forcibly against the gas, by which the heavier impurities are carried down into the water-seal with the dirty washing water, and the gases further cooled and moistened as already described. As aforesaid, in changing direction some of the heavier and already moistened impurities fall by gravity in the water seal. From the fan casing extends down into the same, or another water seal 29, a pipc'30 to permit a drip of the trifling amount of water which sometimes enters and collects in the been stopped.

The function and the preferred. arrangement of the inclined wings is best shown in Fig. 6. These wings are necessarily arranged in separate sets with the wings of each set arrangedalternately, or opposite the spaces between the wings of the preceding and succeeding set. The wings of the different sets are preferably arranged at different inclinations; for instance, six sets are injicated composed of two series a a a and b 1) 6 arranged alternately as shown; the sets of wings an at are arranged at a less inclination to the axis than the sets I) b 5 but the inclination of the three sets a a a gradually increases from front to rearand similarly the I 10 fan casing, particularlywhen the machine has inclination of the three sets I) b I) also gradually'increases from front to rear. The resultis that, at the gas inlet end, as thewings are a stream indicated by n. This leaves a space behind each wing indicated by 0, containing coming to any great extent in contact with the maximum effect of washing out the imthse veils, and cannot escape.

1ndicates-the continuous wings extending tends to accumulate inthe front of each Wing casing and drum c lindrical as it is simpler.

at a lesser inclination, the water is moved more slowly toward the front, butthere is the greatest effect of breaking the water up into water-mist, whereby the maximum intermixture of water-mist with the gas, and

purities. But toward the rear or gas outlet end, by the greater inclination of the wings, a greater force is exerted to drive the water forwardly and a lesser force to break up the water into water-mist, whereby the water mist is se arated from the gases and'the purified gas elivered dry.

By providing separate sets of wings and ar ranging them alternately on the drum, a series of veils or sheets of spray are created as. the water passes from, or over, the rear edges of one set to the next set as indicated at C in Fig. 6, andthe gas is forced to pass through The imrtance of this is shown by'Fig. 7 where m from end to end of the drum. The water and to'fiow' forward through the machine in little or no water-mist, and as the gas seeks the path of least resistance it will flow through these spaces 0 behind the wings. without the water, and therefore with little cleansing effect. This has been the result in practice with machines having wings arranged as shown in Fig. 7.

Arrows R indicate the direction of rotation of the drum: arrows G, the direction of the gas flow: arrows W, the general direction of the water flow,

The strips have been described as being ar ranged longitudinally as shown in Fig. 9. This is a convenient arrangement. But the. arrangement shown in Fig. 10 is also good. Here the inclination indicated by dotted lines, of the wings is to make clear how the arrangement of the strips, inclined in this direction, would promote, and not impede, the flow of the water forwardly toward the outlet. If the strips were inclined in the reverse di rection, they would oppose the forward flow of the water and this machine would not operate.

The casing of my machine is preferably made in two parts provided with flanges 40 and bolts 41, so that the upper half may easily be removed for examination, repairs. etc, of theinner parts. I prefer to make my but they could Fig. 5.

l have used the term water-mist to 111(l1- I be made tapering as shown in cate very fine spray produced by mechanical l means in contradistinction to vapor andi steam, produced by heat. l

a high degree as aforesaid, but does this quickly with the minimum of water, and attains a high degree of efficiency in proportion to the size of the machine.

Having thus described my invention, what I clainras new and desire'to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a gas washer, the combination with a suitable casing having a gas outlet at its rear end, a water inlet adjacent to its rear end, a -gas inlet and water outlet in the lower portion of its circumference at its front end. of a -.water seal arranged below said water outlet and forming the bottom thereof to receive the water and impurities from the washer, a suitable drum, inclined wings on the drum arranged to force the water centrifugally and forwardly, ineans to rotate the drum, and means to. force the gas through the casing around the drum from front to rear. v 2. In a gas washer, the combination with a suitable casing, of a drum journaled in the ,casing, said casing having a gas outlet at its rear end, a water inlet adjacent to its rear end and a gas inlet and water outlet at its front end, means to force the gas through from front to rear, means to rotate the drum, and inclined wings on the exterior of the drum to break up the water into mist and to force it both centrifugally and toward the 5 front, said wings being arranged in a plurality of circumferential sets, with the wings of one set arranged opposite the spaces betweenthe wings of the adjacent set or sets.

3. In a machine for washing gases, the combination with a casinghaving a g-asinlet and a water outlet in the lower portion of its circumference at the front end, a gas outlet at the rear end and a water inlet adjacent to the rear end, of a drum rotating in the casing, and inclined wings on the periphery of the drum arranged to force the water centrifugally and toward the front.

4. In a machine for washing gases, the combination with a casing having a gas inlet and water outlet in its circumference at the front end, a gas outlet at the rear end and a water inlet adjacent to the rear end, of a drum rotating in the casing, and a p urality of separate sets of inclined wings on the periphery of the drum. said wings being inclined to force the incoming water forwardly and the sets toward the front being set at less inclination to the drum axis and'the sets toward the rear set at a greater inclination.

5. ln'a gas washer. the combination with a casing circular in cross section, of a drum concentrically journaled in the casing, said casing having a gas outlet at its rear end, a water inlet adjacent to its rear end, and a gas inlet and water outlet at its front end. means to force the gas through from front to rear, means to rotate the drum, inclined wings on the exterior of the drum to break up the wa- My invention not only cleanses the gases to l ter into mist and to force it both centrifugallyand forwardly, said wings being arranged in a plurality of circumferential sets, with the wings of one set arranged opposite the spaces between the wings of the adjacent set or sets, said gas inlet and water outlet be-' ing in the lower portion of the casing circumference, and a water seal arranged below said water outlet. I j

6. In a machine for washing gases; the combination with a casing having a gas inlet and water outlet at the front end, a gas outletat the rear end and a water inlet adjacent to the rear end, of a drum rotating'in the casing, short, inclined wings on the periphery of the drum arranged 'to force the water centrifugally and toward the front, means to rotate the drum and means to force the gas through between the casing and the drum from front to rear, said wings being arranged in two series, each series being composed of a plurality of clrcumferential sets of wings, the

wings of each set being uniformly inclined to the drum axis, but the sets of one series being a more inclined than those of the other, and

the sets of each series being progressively more inclined from front to rear, and the sets of one series being alternately arranged with those of the other, substantially as described and shown.

7. In a machine for washing gases, the combination with a casing having a gas inlet and water outlet in the lower portion of its circumference at the front end, a gas outlet at'the rear end, a water inlet adjacent to the rear end, of a drum rotating in the casing, inclined wings on the periphery of the drum arranged to force the water centrifugally and toward the front, and of projections on the interior of the shell extending into close roximity with the wings to oppose the ten ency of the water to rotate on the inner surface of the shell. Y

8. In a machine for washing gases, the

combination with a casing having a gas inlet and water outlet at the front end, a gas outlet at the rear end, a waterinlet adjacent to the rear end, of a drum in the casing, inclined wings in the periphery of the drum arranged to force the water centrifugally and toward the front, practically arallel strips arranged on the inner surface of the shell, to break the film of water clinging to the interior of the shell and to form channels romoting the flow of the water toward the ront, means to draw the gas through from front to rear, and means to rotate the drum.

, 9., In a machine for washing gases, the

combination with a casing havinga gas inlet and water outlet in the lower portion of its circumference at the front end, a as outlet at the rear end and a water inlet a 'jaeent' to,

the rear end, of a drum in the casing, inclined win e on the periphery of the drumarranged toowe the watercentrifugally and toward the front, continuous, practically parallel, longitudinal strips arranged on the inner surface of the shell, to break the film of water clinging to the interior of the shell and to form channels promoting the flow of the wa ter toward the front, means to draw the gas through from front to .rear, and means to rotate the drum.

10. In a gas washer, an inclosing casing circular in cross section, having a gas outlet at the rear end, a gas inlet and water outlet in the circumference at the front end and a the drum, said wings being inclined so asto.

force the water both centrifugally and to ward the water outlet, means to operate the drum, and means to force the gas through the washer from front to rear.

11. In a-gas washer, the combination with an inclosing casing having a cylindrical main portion, an enlarged rear portion, a gas outlet in said rear portion, a water inlet adjacent to the rear end of the main portion, and a gas inlet and water outlet in the lower or tion of the circumference at the front en of a water seal below said water outlet, a shaft jo'urnaled concentrically in.the casing, a cylindrical drum on the shaft within the casing,

series of separate inclined wings onthe drumto force the water forwardly, a fan on the drum arranged in said enlarged portion to force the gas rearwardly and meansto rotate the drum, said wings extending from the extreme front end to the extreme rear end of said cylindrical portion of the drum.

a suitable casing having a gas outlet at its rear end, a water inlet adjacent to its rear end and a water outlet and gas inlet in the lower portion of i-tscircufnference at its front end, a-gas supply pi e at its front end, anenlarged' connection etween said pipe and 12. In a gas washer, the combination with v IIO the gas inlet, said ipe and connection being I so arranged that t e gas-turns a sharp angle from the pipe into the connection, a water seal arranged below the water outlet and to form the bottom of said-connection, a drum journaled in the casing, inclined wings on the drum to force the water rearwardly,

means to rotate the drum and means to force the gas through the casing around the drum from front to rear.

y 13. In a gas washer, a cylindrical, metalliccasing having an enlarged rear portion and havin a gas outlet 1n said rear portion, a wainlet and Water outlet in the lower nortion o ter in ct adjacent-to its rear end. and a gas the circumference at its front end, a water I the gas through the casing around the drum 10 seal below said water outlet, a drip pipe in from front to rear.

the bottom of said enlarged ortion, a water In testimony whereof I have signed my seal for said drip pipe, a fan in said enlarged name to this specification in the presence of portion, a cylindrical, metallic drum 'ourtwo subscribing witnesses.

naled concentrically in the casing,-inclined GUSTAV SAALER. wings on the poripheryof the drum to force .Witnesses:

the water forwardly, means torotate the} ALFRED WILKIXsOX,

drum and means to rotate the fan to draw 1 J. B. l\.[ILL\\'ARD. 

